Iraola marks Athletic farewell with a goal

Athletic Club beat Villarreal CF 4-0 at San Mamés on the final day of the Liga BBVA to ensure a seventh-placed finish.

The Basque outfit, who take on FC Barcelona next Saturday in the final of the Copa del Rey, came out intent on victory from the off, and with 25 minutes on the clock they took the lead courtesy of an Aritz Aduriz penalty. There was scarcely enough time to digest the opener before Andoni Iraola, on the day of his San Mamés farewell, made it 2-0 on 28’ for the most emotional of the evening’s goals. And, before the break, Beñat Etxebarria’s free-kick brought up the hosts’ third to settle the encounter.

It was also one-way traffic in the second half, as Athletic rounded off a comprehensive 4-0 scoreline with an hour gone. Again it was Aduriz who found the net, the 34-year-old’s second of the match meaning that he finishes the Liga BBVA campaign as the highest-scoring Spaniard in the division with 18 goals. With the game over as a contest, the highlight was the ovation given to Iraola, who is leaving Athletic after 16 years at the club, 12 of which in the first team.